As I write with puddle eyes, I’m further sadden by the fact that most of you were watching reality TV while a documentary on a REAL injustice debuted on PBS – Central Park Five. Twenty-four years ago today, on April 19, 1989, New York was struck by an unnatural disaster. The aftershock was felt across the country.
I was born and raised on 107th street and Central Park West. I’m the same age as some of the Central Park 5, which in Hip Hop culture, means rappers like Cam’ron and Jim Jones are my peers. I mention them because the North end of the park borders where Harlem starts – 110th Street. Having such a landmark as a backyard so close to Harlem made it part playground part safari, especially in 1989. On that tragic night, there was a perfect storm right outside my window. I didn’t see it but I definitely felt it.
I’m the spitting image of my cousin Kevin who was murdered by mistaken identity around the same time. Kev and I probably had the same facial composite of Antron McCray, one of the CP5. But there was no criminal sketch, only a random roundup of young Black and Hispanic males that resemble you or someone you know.
Once you see this documentary, you’ll get it. Everyone walks away with the same gut wrenching feelings. It’s one of the few instances, where you sympathize for the victim, the scapegoats and even the actual rapist for telling the truth when he didn’t have to. They’re all heroes for different reasons. The only person who didn’t tell the truth was that blind bitch Lady Justice. The film’s close-up of her bloody cunt shows why she has so many miscarriages. If the State can charge us with inciting a riot, the people should be able to charge them with railroading.
It’s hard not to rant on a tangent about the myriad of kNOw justice, kNOw peace issues that this case represents. Shying from the obvious, let’s focus on nuances that deserve more light. First off, the mainstream media aspersion made many of us believe they were guilty thugs while The Amsterdam News and the City Sun, both black owned publications, stood steadfast on their potential innocence. Secondly, props to Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon. After finishing the film, they had to fight in court an attempt by the City of New York to obtain unused footage of the documentary. Luckily, the judge ruled in favor of Burns. Ironically, in the process of making the film their constant attempts to get statements and interviews from city officials were repeated ignored and declined. Sadly, if someone brown had told the exact same story, it would NOT have gotten as much attention or acclaim. We still live in a world where we need a white person to legitimize our truth. Even the Wikipedia page doesn’t mention the five names – and the story is about them.
To the Five, words can’t capture my heavy heart in a condensed blog. After it airs on HBO and the rest of the world catches up, I hope people to pay attention to the relationship between your parents Antron, as it mirrors many black families where the once idol patriarch becomes impotent by systematic and social pressure; Raymond, hug your dad for us (it’s not his fault) and make sure you forewarn others how when in custody, some detectives pretend to protect you and treat you special while they prepare a fire for you to burn in; besides for the too common instinct to run after the police say freeze Kevin, whether you knew it or not, you held your head up during your perp walk in honor of the will, fortitude and faith of your sisters contrary to how the media depicts them, and all our mothers, as angry black women who didn’t raise their sons right; the vindicated joy of Mrs. Salaam’s smile brings me to brother Yusef (my traumatized twitch almost made me write your last name as Hawkins), despite the courage and legal savvy (under your mother’s guidance) you displayed during long hours of interrogation, this case made you the prime example of how even though there was no DNA, no signature or confession from you, there’s always a strange fruit from a poisonous tree rule in law enforcement; and finally, Mr. Korey Wise, a man who was blindsided while being his brother’s keeper, I’d being lying if I didn’t say that my heart is heaviest when it comes to your misfortune. The honesty, innocence and victimization of being convicted at a certain age made your testimony the hardest to swallow. Your hearing condition, your African medallion, your thirst and parched relief while sipping the soda, your natural reaction to the photos of the brutalized jogger and of course, the image of you not recognizing yourself in your own confession, “They were using me against me” is the quote that best describes how the police and legal system frame black youth without care or consequence. Just remember, above the law, there is God’s plan. Korey, you were chosen to be tried as an adult so that through you, and only you, there would be a fateful encounter with Matias Reyes that would lead to his confession and the vacated convictions of all five.
Forgive me for being familiar, but so many of us know each of you, even though we don’t know you at all. I apologize on behalf of the many black men who promote the Cocaine Cowboys documentary more than they ever will yours. I pity the parents with adolescent children who don’t make them watch CP5 in its entirety. I’m sorry that many will be touched by the travesty but won’t think you deserve such a large sum for your civil suit (even though they’d agree less deserving people win the lottery everyday).
The subject of who already profited from this incident (and similar unknown cases) is a sickening, deep-seeded dissertation of blue shield corruption, black robes and white justice that you won’t find in a Linda FAIRstein novel. If the city doesn’t pay CP5, I’m sure the same way Mr. Trump campaigned for their death, before dishonor, he’ll put is money to good use as he did with the Obama birth certificate bounty. Speaking of cross promoting “you’re fired,” why join the odious trolling on Trump’s twitter when you can do something that gets results like sign the petition to terminate Assistant DA Elizabeth Lederer from her faculty position at Columbia Law School? Former Detective Mike Sheehan, will you join me in signing? The only trace of DNA it leaves is your email.
T. Better Baldwin is a creative mercenary and ethical lobbyist who was born raised and resides in New York City
